Manchester United player Oliver Rathbone scored a hat-trick for the club’s under-18s on Saturday, as they overcame Blackburn Rovers 4-1.

United’s other goal came from Joe Riley but it was Rathbone who stole the show, and the player who signed as an under-17 Academy student little over a year ago looks like he is well on the way to becoming a success at Old Trafford.

Of course it is early days, but Rathbone is certainly making a good impression and the diminutive midfielder will be hoping to continue making headlines in the weeks and months to come.

Demetri Mitchell was no doubt getting used to being the goal-scoring hero for the young United side this season, but for once the England under-17 international was outshone by Rathbone.

A hat-trick from a player for whom goal-scoring is not the primary purpose is not bad at all, and there could be much better to come.

Vincent Ralph

After graduating with a degree in English Literature, Vincent completed a NCTJ-accredited qualification in newspaper and magazine journalism in 2005. Shortly after, in a somewhat leftfield move, he began working at a secondary school in Kent. After eight years – the last four of which were spent as Head of Sixth Form – he began to write full-time, combining his love of football with his passion for the written word.Alongside his work for HITC Sport, he also writes film reviews for HITC Lifestyle… along with the odd music interview when fate allows.